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The three people found dead and two others seriously injured in a car accident in Cardiff are reported to have lain in the wreckage for up to 46 hours before they were discovered.
The group vanished at around 2am on Saturday, and police sources told the Daily Telegraph that a missing person report was first filed with Gwent Police some 19 hours later. The force did not put out their appeal until just after 11pm the following day – with the vehicle found just over an hour later.
Eve Smith, 21, Darcy Ross, 21 and Rafel Jeanne, 24, died after the Volkswagen Tiguan came off the A48(M) and crashed into trees. Sophie Russon, 20, and Shane Loughlin, 32, survived but remain in a critical condition, according to police.
Ms Russon’s mother Anna Certowicz, 42, alleged that police told her to “stop ringing” the station for updates, telling the Daily Mail: “They didn’t seem to care. I had to drive to Cardiff to knock on doors myself because they were doing s*d all. They just didn’t seem to think it was worth investigating. It was so frustrating.”
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Mother of missing woman claims police told her to ‘stop ringing’ station for updates
The mother of one of the women who went missing following a night out in Cardiff claims police told her to “stop ringing” the station for updates.
Sophie Russons’s mother Anna Certowicz, 42, told the Daily Mail that something “must be wrong” after not having heard from her or her friends Eve Smith and Darcy Ross.
Ms Certowicz, 42, said she drove around the Gwent and Cardiff areas last night in a desperate search for her daughter.
She told the Daily Mail: “They didn’t seem to care. I had to drive to Cardiff to knock on doors myself because they were doing s*d all. They just didn’t seem to think it was worth investigating. It was so frustrating.
“I think they assumed that Sophie was hungover somewhere, but she’s a sensible girl who works in a bank and hasn’t taken a day off for three years.
“She’s not someone who’s out clubbing in Cardiff all the time. On Friday nights she’s more likely to be babysitting so other people can go out. She wouldn’t just vanish like this unless something was wrong.
“The police asked me to stop ringing but at the end of the day I’m a mum I’m going to worry. Her little sister is worrying too, she’s only 13 and she’s wondering where Sophie is.”
Emily Atkinson6 March 2023 10:401678128878
Passengers lay undiscovered in car wreckage for ‘up to 46 hours’
The three dead and two seriously injured passengers lay undiscovered in car wreckage for as many as 46 hours before they were discovered, according to the Daily Telegraph.
A missing person report was first filed with Gwent Police at around 9pm on Saturday, police sources told the paper, but the force did not put out their appeal until just after 11pm the following day.
The statement had been published for just over an hour before officers found the wreckage of the vehicle in St Mellons.
The car was found near a roundabout in the St Mellons area
(Ben Birchall/PA Wire)
Andy Gregory6 March 2023 18:541678128164
Police refer themselves to watchdog ‘as is usual in these circumstances'
South Wales Police and Gwent Police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the former has said.
“Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the incident, including when the collision took place,” South Wales Police said in an update this evening.
“The five individuals were the subject of enquiries by Gwent Police following a missing person report made during the evening of Saturday 4th March. A subsequent missing person report in respect of one of the individuals was made to South Wales Police on Sunday 5th March. Referrals have been made by Gwent Police and South Wales Police to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.”
The force added that it had done so “to ensure independent oversight”, adding that a self-referral to the police watchdog is standard practice in such circumstances.
Andy Gregory6 March 2023 18:421678126674
Police officially name three women killed in Cardiff crash
The three people killed in a road accident in Cardiff have been officially named by South Wales Police as Rafel Jeanne, 24, from Cardiff, Eve Smith, 21, from Newport, and Darcy Ross, 21, from Newport.
While the three women had previously been named locally, the force said that their announcement follows formal identification.
Assistant Chief Constable Jason Davies of South Wales Police said: “Our thoughts are with the families of all those affected by this tragic incident. Specialist officers are carrying out an investigation to piece together what has happened.
“Family liaison officers are supporting the families involved at what must be a hugely difficult time for them.”
Andy Gregory6 March 2023 18:171678123880
Friend claims members of public found women before police
Speaking at the scene, a friend of the three women – who described them as “the life of the party” – claimed it was members of the public searching who found them, and not the police.
Tamzin Samuels, 20, said: “I do think the police could have done a lot more in putting the helicopters out earlier. They only posted the appeal an hour before the girls were found. We found them before the police found them – we rang the police.
“The search party found the girls before the police found the girls. I think that speaks volumes really, they had all that equipment, and we had cars when we were looking.
“They were really popular girls, the life of the party, and it was really out of character for them to do what they did, which is why we knew something was wrong.”
Ms Samuels, a carer from Dyffryn, paid tribute to her friends, who she said “were the life of the party”. Ms Samuels said: “Darcy was known as a wild child, loved life and lived life to the fullest and she didn’t care what anyone thought about her. She was great.
“Eve had a smile that could brighten a room as soon as she walked in. A real feisty, independent girl, but everyone loved her just as much. I didn’t really know the boys and one of our friends who is recovering, we just really hope for her on the road to recovery.”
Andy Gregory6 March 2023 17:311678122097
Floral tributes left near scene of crash
People have been laying floral tributes near the scene in St Mellons where three people who disappeared on a night out have died in a road traffic accident.
Andy Gregory6 March 2023 17:011678118713
Tributes pour in for three killed in Cardiff crash as police face probe over case
Tributes have poured in from family and friends of the three young people killed in a fatal crash after a night out.
The family of Eve Smith confirmed the 21-year-old was one of three who died in the crash.
The relatives and friends of “bubbly and beautiful” Eve Smith today confirmed she has died – in a double tragedy for the family. Her older sibling Lauren Doyle wrote on Facebook: “I will not comment on anyone other than Eve Smith to confirm that she has been confirmed as deceased.”
Thomas Kingsley has more:
Tributes pour in for three killed in Cardiff crash as police face probe over case
Two people are hospitalised in a serious condition
Emily Atkinson6 March 2023 16:051678117513
CCTV shows car carrying missing friends on Cardiff night out before crash killed three
CCTV images of the car carrying a group of friends ahead of a horror crash which killed three have been released.
Sophie Russon, 20, Eve Smith, 21, and Darcy Ross, 21, were last seen in the early hours of Saturday, having partied in the popular bar Muffler in Newport before going on to Trecco Bay in Porthcawl.
The women were later seen travelling in a white Volkswagen Tiguan, as shown in the CCTV images, with two men, Rafel Jeanne, 24, and Shane Loughlin, 32, both from Cardiff, who were also reported as missing.
Thomas Kingsley reports:
CCTV shows car carrying missing friends on Cardiff night out before fatal crash
Gwent Police force has been referred to the police watchdog for its handling of the case
Emily Atkinson6 March 2023 15:451678116963
Friends of Eve Smith lament ‘heartbreaking’ crash
Friends of Eve Smith have lamented the “heartbreaking” collision that killed three people and left two others seriously injured.
Friends of Ms Smith, 21, paid tribute on social media after she and four people went missing on a night out in Wales.
Ms Smith’s family said she was among the three who died as they urged to public to “allow us some time as a family to digest this terrible news.”
“Just can’t imagine the grief, thinking of loved ones, this is heartbreaking,” said one Facebook user.
“So sorry for your loss thoughts and prayers are with you all as a family and all the familys of lost young lives,” said another.
A third added: “I’m so sorry. She was stunning inside and out.”
Emily Atkinson6 March 2023 15:361678115713
Watch: Wreckage removed from fatal car crash near Cardiff which left three dead and two injured
✕Wreckage removed from fatal car crash near Cardiff which left three dead and two injuredEmily Atkinson6 March 2023 15:15
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